RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Amazon is planning to build a new distribution center in suburban Richmond that state officials expect will create 1,000 new jobs.
The company will construct a 650,000-square-foot facility near the Richmond Raceway in Henrico County that will employ robotics technology, Gov. Ralph Northam's office said in a news release Wednesday.
“This new robotics fulfillment center in Henrico County is the latest milestone in the growing partnership between Amazon and Virginia, and reinforces our standing as both a technology hub and a leader in supply chain management,” the Democratic governor said in a statement.
The facility is expected to open in 2022. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports it is being built on vacant property north of the raceway that was once used for overflow parking.
Amazon is eligible to receive at least two types of publicly-funded financial incentives for the project, according to the news release, which did not provide a specific amount. Funding to support employee training activities will also be provided.